Therian Temple
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The Therian Temple, founded in early 2006, is one of the most well known, more infamous groups within the Therian community in that many therian websites have a post somewhere warning of or criticizing it as a scam or possibly dangerous cult. It is one of the few known esoteric or "religious" group of/for Therianthropes. It is based on the principles set forth in a book called The Therian Bible. The Therian Bible contains rituals and lifestyle recommendations for Therians who join the group. Their said mission is to "connect Therian Magicians with Others of our Kin, to successfully Apply Therian Magic in the Real World, and to spread the concepts in the The Therian Code, The Three Therian Truths and other ideas set forth in The Therian Bible"[1]. This controversial and somewhat secretive group promote the idea that accounts of "were-ism" and other forms of "lycanthropic/therianthropic transformation" are metaphorical accounts of intense psychological and/or physical "shifts".
Due to the The Therian Temple's strict privacy and non-disclosure policies in regards to the private information of members, some have accused the Temple of existing only as a one-person run website. However, the Temple claims these accusations to be false, and claims members in 4 countries, including members of the Armed Forces.
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[edit] Structure
The Therian Temple maintains "traditional" occult order degrees, similar to degrees found in other similar groups, such as Masonry and Scientology, but these are not meant to be seen as "initiatory steps" which are expected of members. No member is really required to ever move beyond Registered Membership, however, to become a member one must first purchase the group's official book, 'Therian Bible' for reasons addressed at the groups FAQ page on their site. Further, to be considered for active membership, someone must fill out a 17 question application, this is only for members who want to become more involved with the organization and other members.
There are six "ranks", they are:
- Registered Lifetime Member
- Active Member
- Therian Adept
- Therian Magus
- Ordo Vir Bestia
- High Priest/High Priestess
[edit] Criticism
The Temple has received both positive and negative reactions from therians. Members of a few online forums such as The Werelist have commented that it appears to only exist to con new and unsuspecting therians out of their money, or that it is a cult meant to promote the founder's own idealogy. Most therian websites have a note somewhere about the group, and it's almost never good.
Most of the accusations against the Therian Temple are answered at the group's Frequently Asked Questions page.
